Show ContentsKeipp History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Keipp family name first began to be used in the German state of Bavaria. After the 12th century, hereditary surnames were adopted according to fairly general rules, and names that were derived from locations became particularly common. The family name Keipp is a local surname. Originally denoting the proprietorship of an estate or influence within a village, the German preposition von, which means from or of, used with local names, was taken as a mark of aristocracy. The surname Keipp was given to someone who lived in Nuremburg, where their name rose to prominence through their involvement in the social and cultural affairs of the area.

Early Origins of the Keipp family

The surname Keipp was first found in Nuremburg, where the name was an integral part of the feudal society which shaped modern European history. Many prominent branches of the family would strive to make this name renowned as they contributed to the social, economic and political affairs of the region.

Early History of the Keipp family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Keipp research. Another 53 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Keipp History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Keipp Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Keipp include Keypper, Keyper, Keyppen, Keyppel, Keyppele, Keyppeler, Kayper, Kaypper, Kayppel, Kayppele, Kayppeler, Kaiper, Kaipper, Kaippen, Kaippel, Kaippele, Kaippeler, Keiper, Keipper, Keippen, Keippel, Keippele, Keippeler, Keip, Keipher and many more.

Early Notables of the Keipp family

More information is included under the topic Early Keipp Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Keipp migration to the United States +

The great European flow of migration to North America, which began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century, was particularly attractive to those from Bavaria who wished to escape either poverty or religious persecution. For many Bavarian tenant farmers, the chance to own their own land was a major incentive. So the widespread colonization of the United States began in 1650, when many immigrants from Germany settled in pockets in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. In Canada, German settlement centered in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Among those of this surname listed in various historical records were:

Keipp Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Johannes Keipp, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1754 1
Keipp Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Louis Keipp who was recorded as having arrived in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in 1853


  1. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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